Nautilus Necklace

Rawr Jammers!  The new item for today is the Nautilus Necklace found in Bahari Bargains.  I found a picture of a real nautilus.  AJ did a good job, no?

And a DE post from yesterday about gem donations.  Kind of along the same lines as the Conservation post.

Part 3 of Defeat of the Phantoms!  Go to the story and poems page to see previous parts!  Part 4 will be the last part...hope you enjoy!

The Defeat of the Phantoms

Part 3- Into the Darkness

     It was dead quiet.  You could almost hear a pen drop.
     Gilbert broke the silence.  "You want us to find Phantom."  It wasn't a question.
     "It's the only way," Liza said simply.
     "You want us to go out searching for Phantom completely alone?!  He could be anywhere!" cried Peck.
     "Mira will guide us."
     Peck snorted.  "Oh right, the same Mira who gave Phantom his powers in the first place."
     "She knows what she's doing!"  Liza argued.
     "Guys, please."  said Graham the peace maker.  "We have more pressing matters at the moment."  He pointed to some phantoms who were advancing on the townspeople.
     Greely and Graham looked at each other.  "Charge!" they yelled, barreling towards the phantoms.
     Liza shook her head.  "Such dummies.  Only Mira's powers can stop Phantoms.  I wonder if...Peck, take out your paint brush!"
     Peck dutifully took out her paint brush that she carried everywhere.
     "Paint a cage for the phantoms."
     "What?"
     "Just do it," Liza ordered.
     And so she did.  Just after Peck finished the last stroke, light started shining through the paper.  In a matter of seconds, the painted cage turned into a real one.  The cage acted like a vacuum cleaner, sucking in the phantoms.  As soon as the phantoms were inside, Gilbert closed the lid. The phantoms were trapped.
     "Cool!" exclaimed Peck.
     Greely and Graham, looking embarrassed, returned from their unsuccessful rampage.
     "We have to leave NOW."
     "Why now?" Peck complained.
     "Our ride is here," pointed out Liza.
     A ginormous, eagle-like bird landed on the ground in front of them.  It's wingspan was at least 20 feet, and it's sharp beak could easily crush an unsuspecting animal.  Fortunately, the Ziotain was tame.  It shook its back impatiently, indicating the animals should get on.
     "Told you Mira would help," said Liza smugly.
     Peck stuck her tongue out.  Then, using the Ziotain's legs as a rope, she pushed herself onto its back.  Once she was seated on the bird-mobile, she leaned over and shouted.  "Well, what are you waiting for?  Come on guys!"
     As Liza, Graham, Cosmo, Greely, and Gilbert loaded single file onto Mira's gift, Gilbert shook his head and mumbled to himself, "What have I gotten myself into?"
 
     The trip took several days.  The Ziotain weaved its way through mountains and plateaus, over oceans and rivers.  Occasionally, the bird landed for a food break, but other than that, it was constant flying.  The animals were becoming restless.  It didn't help that they had no idea where they were going and when they were going to get there.  They had to put complete trust in the bird.  And even worse, was imaging what would happen when they finally got there.  Even Liza couldn't see how Mira could help them capture Phantom.
    On the 5th day of the journey, they arrived at the place.  And, of course, you're wondering what WAS the place.  The animals were wondering that too.
     "Err, what is this place suppose to be?" wondered Peck.
     "Phantom sure doesn't go big," snorted Greely.
     The bird had landed them right in the middle of a deserted field.  All that you could see for miles was dirt, with a few stray weeds poking up from the ground.  Clouds covered the sky, threatening to spill at any moment.
     The bird scurried off into the distance.  The animals were now completely alone.
     "How do we even know this is where Phantom is?" asked Cosmo.
     At that moment, some phantoms materialized from the ground and drifted up towards the sky.
     "Umm, just a good guess?" answered Graham.
     "They must be underground." said Liza.  "The only question is, where is the entrance?"
     "Do we have to go right now?  Maybe we can plan this out first..." suggested Gilbert.
     "Don't be such a scaredy tiger!" teased Peck, "Besides, I'm sure we're looking right at the entrance right now!"
     Almost like the earth was answering her thoughts, it opened up.  A huge crack ran through the middle of the dirt.  With a huge rumbling, it seperated the animals on either side.
     "What now?" shouted Cosmo to Liza, Peck, and Gilbert across the crack.
     "We go in!" shouted Peck.
     "It's probably a trap!" warned Gilbert.
     "We have no choice!" yelled Greely.  With that, they slowly descended into the canyon.
     Step by step, they came closer to Phantom.  For better or for worse was still to be found out.

To Be Continued....

 Later gators!